CBI seeks information from Interpol as Mehul Choksi seeks to cancel RCN

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jul 30, 2019

As fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi tries again to cancel the Red Corner Notice issued against him by Interpol, the Central Bureau of Investigation has contacted Interpol for information on the “human rights violations” of which Choksi has accused it.

The CBI has contacted the international police organisation Interpol for details on how it has defined “human rights violations” in its query about the RCN issued against Choksi, sources told ET Bureau. Following Choksi’s attempt to have the RCN cancelled, Interpol contacted the CBI for more details on the situation.  

“While the RCN against his nephew, Nirav Modi, who is a co-accused in the [Punjab National Bank fraud] case, was issued in July (last year), that against Choksi was issued only by December of that year after satisfying multiple queries raised by Interpol,” a source told ET Bureau. “These questions pertained to matters concerning his security, prison conditions, the case not being a politically motivated one; all had been answered in detail and to the satisfaction of Interpol, following which the RCN was issued.”

In response to the issuing of the RCN, Choksi has again contacted Interpol requesting for it to be cancelled. “Based on his plea, Interpol has again written to the CBI, seeking details on the concerns raised by him,” said the source.

Choksi is currently thought to be residing in Antigua where he left for before news of his alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank broke in the media. Choksi has repeatedly refused to return to India to stand trial as requested by Indian authorities citing health issues. The Enforcement Directorate has contested Choksi’s medical records and Indian authorities are in negotiations with Antigua and Barbuda over the possibility of extraditing Choksi.